AFTRA FLASH

AFTRA - Your Voice in Music, Entertainment and News & Information -
Your Union

April 2006

In this issue
Please click on the following links to take you to the news...

NEW PODCAST FROM PRESIDENT JOHN P. CONNOLLY
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
LOCAL BRIEFS
CHICAGO
CLEVELAND
DENVER
DETROIT
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
SAN FRANCISCO
WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE
CONGRATULATIONS
WE REMEMBER
UNION PLUS TAX SCHOOL
UPDATE YOUR RECORDS
PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
AFTRA members are leading the charge against unfair restrictions on free speech. AFTRA is partnering with Clear Channel to address two important issues of mutual concern: broadcast license revocation and fines against individuals. Within the past three months, we have:

• Testified at a Senate Commerce Committee forum on broadcast decency
• Held face-to-face meetings with Senate staffers on Capitol Hill
• Co-authored a letter with Clear Channel to Senator Stevens articulating our concerns
• Circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter among Commerce Committee Senators asking Senators Stevens and Inoye to pull the bill
• Prevailed upon Senator Conrad Burns to reach out to Senator Stevens on this issue

AFTRA will continue to monitor and update you on this situation as it develops.

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LOCAL BRIEFS
CHICAGO
“Chicago Is A Strong Union Town!”
Tuesday, March 28, AFTRA Chicago members turned out to support the Chicago Federation of Musicians' effort to organize the Royal George Theatre production of “The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey, & Dean.” The producers said, "We do not need union musicians, we can do it without you." Almost 200 supporters answered back: "Chicago is a strong Union Town. Working people deserve a fair wage and to be treated with the dignity and respect."

Photo: AFTRA Chicago V.P. Richard Shavzin
marching in support of the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

AFTRA’s Eileen Willenborg Named Labor Woman of the Year
The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) has named Eileen Willenborg, Local Executive Director of AFTRA and SAG, Labor Woman of the Year. Recognizing the important role of women in the labor movement, CFL President Dennis Gannon praised Willenborg for her "leadership in advancing the cause of justice and respect for all workers. Eileen’s service, in particular her commitment to organizing, has been tremendously effective in defending workers’ rights, protecting families and strengthening organized labor in Chicago.” Visit the Chicago Local website for the full story.

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CLEVELAND
Fitz Award Presented
AFTRA Cleveland is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Fitz Award, recognizing the many years of dedication and service to our Local by two very special people: the first was a posthumous presentation made to attorney Ted Smoot who, years ago, was the first person to suggest AFTRA provide a pension plan for its members, and the second recipient was longtime Cleveland Local member and freelance artist Leif Ancker. Visit the Cleveland Local website for the full story.

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DETROIT
Jayne Bower Elected President of the AFTRA Detroit Local
Jayne Bower (WWJ-AM – CBS RADIO) was elected President of the Detroit AFTRA Local on March 20, 2006. Jayne anchors the afternoon drive at her news station and has taught journalism for years at Wayne State University. Visit the Detroit Local website to see the entire Detroit Local Board list.

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LOS ANGELES
Spring General Membership Meeting – April 26
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 – 7:00 p.m.
Agenda items include an opportunity to meet the candidates for this year’s Local and National Board elections; a report and vote on the National Code of Fair Practice for Commercial Radio Broadcasting; and consideration of a proposed amendment to the Los Angeles Local Constitution and Bylaws. Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.

AFTRA/SAG/WGA Seasoned Play Readings Program Fifth Anniversary – April 17
Celebrating five seasons of the Seasoned Play Readings program, the Tri-Union Seniors Committee will host an Open House on Monday, April 17.
Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.

Classes for AFTRA LA Members

• Stage Fright Workshop: Michael I. Goode, internationally recognized stage fright consultant, author of “Stage Fright in Music and Its Relationship to the Unconscious,” and his second book, “Your True Self,” due out this summer, will lead a workshop for AFTRA members on Tuesday, April 11.
  Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.
• Improv Class: Pictures and resumes are being accepted for the seventh session of the Los Angeles Local’s very popular Improv Class, scheduled to begin May 3. Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.
• Senior Cold Readings: Every month, AFTRA performers 50 years old and over have an opportunity to audition in cold readings before casting directors and/or franchised agents. Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.

Be a “Bunny” This Year
AFTRA Los Angeles members will be collecting baskets, small toys, games, candy, and new clothing for infants through teens, as part of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor’s annual “Bunny Project.” Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.

AFTRA Supports National Letter Carriers’ Food Drive
AFTRA Los Angeles is pleased to support the National Letter Carriers’ Food Drive to end hunger nationwide. A collection box will be available in the LA Membership Department beginning in mid-April through May 12 as a drop-off point for canned goods and other non-perishable food items.

2006 Revlon Run/Walk – May 18
AFTRA Los Angeles members have been longtime supporters of the annual Revlon Run/Walk. This family-friendly 5k run/walk, beginning and ending at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, is scheduled for May 18. Visit the Los Angeles Local website for more information.

EEO Tri-Union Diversity Celebration – June 12
Under the leadership of LA Local EEO Committee members from AFTRA, SAG, and Actors’ Equity, a third annual celebration is being planned for June 12 at the East West Players Theater to honor trendsetters in diversity. Broadcaster Beverly White will be presented with the AFTRA Award by her colleague Gordon Takamatsu. Actors’ Equity has chosen Margo Albert as its honoree, while SAG is recognizing Robert David Hall. The tri-union honoree is actor Edward James Olmos.

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NEW YORK
Spring General Membership Meeting – May 10
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 – 6:00 p.m.
Visit the New York AFTRA Local website for details.

Documentary Presentation and Q&A: “Invisible Women” – April 17
Whoever said life begins at 40 wasn't speaking of women in the arts and media. The New York Coalition of Professional Women in the Arts & Media Presents Invisible Women: VintAge II. Visit the New York AFTRA Local website for program details.

AFTRA NY Member Lobbies New York State Legislature
On March 29, New York Local Board and National Board member Ed Fry traveled to Albany, NY, and joined industry union representatives to lobby the New York State Legislature for the extension of the New York Film and Television Tax Incentive Program and to support adoption of a new Commercials Tax Incentive Program.

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SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco Local Restructures Broadcast Department
The San Francisco Local recently restructured its Broadcast Department to make more staff resources available to members. Both Assistant Executive Director Karen Lipney and Executive Director Frank du Charme will begin concentrating their efforts in the area of broadcast contracts and negotiations. Karen will also continue to focus on Health & Retirement and communications issues, and Frank will continue in the day-to-day administration of the Local. With the hiring of Broadcast Assistant Michael Bracamonte this past January, the Broadcast Department now includes Broadcast Director Andy Baker, Assistant Executive Director Karen Lipney, Executive Director Frank Du Charme, and Broadcast Assistant Michael Bracamonte.

Tribute to Paul Robeson
Don't miss “Paul Robeson, The Tallest Tree in Our Forest” now on exhibit at the African American Museum and Library at Oakland. The exhibit runs from April 1 through July 8, 2006. Paul Robeson was a world-renowned scholar, athlete, singer, actor, and a relentless and outspoken fighter for social justice, peace and equality for all. He was also a friend of labor. Don't miss this exhibit. Click here for details.

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WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE
AFTRA Members Successfully Increase State Support for Local Production
Thanks to outreach to legislators by AFTRA members and others, the Maryland Legislature approved a budget of $6,875,000 for the state's Wage Rebate Grant Tax Incentive Program for the fiscal year 2006-2007. The legislation was enacted and funded at $4 million in 2005—and the $2,875,000 increase over last year demonstrates that Maryland lawmakers recognize the value of the television and film industry to the state's economy. Visit the Washington/Baltimore Local website to read the full story.

Photo: AFTRA Washington/Baltimore Local Assistant Executive Director Jane Love (in white jacket) with Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich at Ehrlich's press conference to announce his proposed budget for TV and film tax incentives for 2006.

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CONGRATULATIONS
AFTRA congratulates longtime AFTRA member and daytime serial veteran Helen Wagner who has earned a place in Guinness World Records by playing one role, matriarch Nancy Hughes on the CBS daytime drama "As the World Turns" for over 50 years! Click here to read the full story.

Photo: Actress Helen Wagner (R) with actor Don MacLaughlin
who portrays Chris Hughes on the show
in this March 20, 1956 publicity photograph.

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WE REMEMBER

	Bill Beutel (1930-2006)—longtime WABC-TV New York news anchor and host of the morning show, “AM America,” which later became ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Beutel, whose trademark sign-off “Good luck and be well” closed WABC’s nightly local newscast for over 30 years. A winner of several Emmy and Peabody awards, the Bill Beutel you saw on television was the same Bill Beutel you'd see off-camera. According to former WABC reporter and fellow AFTRA member Doug Johnson: “At the end of the day, you'd find him in his office pouring over newspapers reading foreign affairs. He was a stickler for accuracy. He had the honesty and character legends are made of. Bill was always so real. He taught all of us that to connect with the viewers, you had to be yourself, be real.”
	Buck Owens (1929-2006)—maverick honky-tonk singer who scored 20 number one hits on the “Bilboard” country music charts over the course of his long career. He recorded the hits "Act Naturally" and "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line" before steering country music to television as a host of the groundbreaking AFTRA series "Hee Haw." Owens co-hosted the show from 1969 to 1986. Both as a solo artist and with his band, the Buckaroos, Buck Owens pioneered what has come to be called the Bakersfield sound—a reference to Bakersfield, CA, the city Owens called home and from which he drew inspiration for what he preferred to call "American Music.”
	Dana Reeve (1961-2006)—singer, actress, writer, and devoted activist whose many singing and acting credits include appearances on television, where she had featured roles on “Law & Order” and “All My Children,” among others. She also performed at theaters on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at numerous regional theaters. She and husband Christopher Reeve created the Christopher Reeve Foundation, which drew on his fame as the actor in the "Superman" movies and the inspiration many drew from his struggle to raise and distribute over $55 million in research grants, much of it aimed at speeding the development of stem-cell treatments.
	Maureen Stapleton (1925-2006)—award-winning actress who, the New York Times said, “created a gallery of pugnacious, sometimes profane but always vulnerable heroines on Broadway, in movies, and on television.” Elected to the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1981, Stapleton had one of the most honored acting careers of her generation. She won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 1982 for her role in "Reds"—her fourth Oscar nomination. During her long career, she was honored repeatedly with many nominations and wins at the Golden Globes, the British Academy Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle, and the L.A. Film Critics Association, and in 1967 she earned an Emmy for her role on the made-for-TV film "Among the Paths to Eden.” In her 1995 autobiography "Hell of a Life," Stapleton said with characteristic wit: “I’ve been asked repeatedly what the 'key' to acting is, and as far as I'm concerned, the main thing is to keep the audience awake."
	Peter Tomarken (1942-2006)—popular game show host, best known for the immensely successful AFTRA game show "Press Your Luck." Tomarken's first game show was "Hit Man!," which ran 13 weeks on NBC, followed by the four-year hit "Press Your Luck" on CBS. He also hosted "Bargain Hunters” and “Wipe-Out” and last hosted the big money game show “Paranoia” for Fox Family Channel (now ABC Family). Fred Wostbrock, Tomarken’s agent, observed, "He was always a fun guy to be around, and he just loved the genre of game shows.”
	Rhoda Williams (1930-2006)—actress who began her acting career at age five, joining AFTRA in 1939 and SAG in 1937. She worked in early radio from 1937 to 1957 appearing in almost every major show emanating from Hollywood, including a five-year stint as Robert Young’s oldest daughter in “Father Knows Best.” She appeared in motion pictures such as “National Velvet” and was the voice and model for the nasty stepsister, Drizella, in Walt Disney’s “Cinderella.” Rhoda also worked in early live and recorded television and was a busy voiceover performer. She was an active member of the AFTRA Los Angeles Local, serving on the Local and National Board and on numerous union and industry committees. She moved to Eugene, OR, in 1993 and was elected to the AFTRA Portland Local Board where she served in various positions and, along with her husband David Van Meter, edited the Local newsletter.

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UNION PLUS TAX TOOL
Did you know Union Plus benefits include an online tax preparation tool?
AFTRA members can file federal returns for $14.95 and state returns for $9.95 for a total cost of just $24.90. If your adjusted gross income is below $29,000, you can file both your federal and state returns for only $9.95! For more information, log on to tax tool. Be sure to browse the rest of the site for all the discounts and services available to union members.

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UPDATE YOUR RECORDS
Please remember to keep your address—including email—current with the Health & Retirement Funds, as well as with your AFTRA Local. Members who want to change their addresses with both the union and H&R can get a multi-use change of address form from their Local office. You can also change your information with the union only online at www.aftra.com, click on the “Members Only” button.

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PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY!
Protect yourself from the growing problem of identity theft. Avoid using your Social Security number on any public document. Use your AFTRA Performer ID Number (that’s the number on your AFTRA Membership Card, not the number on your AFTRA Health & Retirement Card) whenever you fill out audition sign-in sheets, member reports, or send correspondence to the union. Do not put your Social Security number on resumes or headshots. If you can’t find your AFTRA Membership Card, call your local AFTRA office.

If you are communicating with the AFTRA H&R Funds, use your participant ID number located on your AFTRA Health Fund card. If you have a question about your participant ID number for AFTRA H&R purposes, contact the Funds office directly at 1.800.562.4690.

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